Central vacuum cleaner and its central unit

ABSTRACT

A central vacuum cleaner including a central unit provided with a suction joint and an exhaust joint as well as a suction hose. According to the invention, the central vacuum cleaner includes an operating unit ( 1 ) having adaptors for attaching the central unit ( 2 ) to the operating unit, an exhaust junction ( 3 ) for connecting the exhaust joint of the central unit to the operating unit, a filter ( 4 ) for filtering the air flow from the exhaust joint and exhaust junction, as well as an outlet port ( 5 ) for directing the air flow that travelled through the filter into the air space surrounding the operating unit.

The invention relates to a central vacuum cleaner as defined in thepreamble of claim 1 and to a central unit of a central vacuum cleaner asdefined in the preamble of claim 8.

Central vacuum cleaners are traditionally used in detached houses, andbigger central vacuum cleaning systems are used in big public premisessuch as hotels, hospitals, ships etc. The present invention relatesmainly to smaller, flat-specific central vacuum cleaning applications.

The central vacuum cleaner includes a central unit having a motor, afan, a dust separator such as a cyclone or some other filter, as well asa dust container. Furthermore, there is in the central vacuum cleaner asuction piping with suction boxes built according to the dimensions ofthe premises, as well as a suction hose to be optionally connected tothe suction boxes. It is even possible that in small premises, thesuction hose is directly connected to the central unit with no need fora separate suction piping. There is an exhaust pipe leading from thecentral unit into the yard, into which the air flow purified from mostof the dust is blown.

The system as described above is very functional, cleans the air and iseasy to use in private houses and terraced houses, i.e. in flats whereall the functions are substantially flat-specific. Instead, in blocks offlats even the laying of the suction piping as a-retro instalment wouldbe laborious. Another disadvantage would be associated with the exhaustpipes, which the wall of a high house would be full of. Thus, theexhaust pipe would always be in the vicinity of a neighbour's windows,so that the circulation of the dusty air from one flat to another couldnot be avoided. Furthermore, if air is strongly blown out of the flatsin blocks of flats which have a common exhaust air system, the aircirculation gets into disorder, and odours and smokes flow from one roomto another. These are considerable reasons for the fact of why centralvacuum cleaners are not general in blocks of flats, not at least asretro instalments.

Traditionally, the central units of central vacuum cleaners have beenupright cylindrical containers in which on top there is a motor,underneath it the blade structures of the fan and underneath it theseparator part in which the dust is separated from the air flow by meansof the centrifugal force and filters. Underneath the separator partthere is a dust container in which the impurities settle as the air flowleaves sideways the area of the separator part.

Known structures are functional per se but bulky and barrel-like inrespect of their appearance and taking up too much space. Due to this,their instalment in the premises is often cumbersome, and they take uptoo much space in a cleaning cupboard or storeroom. Likewise, theirpower requirement with respect to the attained suction power isrelatively poor, so one must use in them quite effective motors.

The objective of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantagesreferred to above. One specific objective of the invention is todisclose a new type of central vacuum cleaning solution which allows theinstalment and use of the central vacuum cleaner for each flatspecifically in any premises. Further, the objective of the invention isto disclose a new type of central unit of a central vacuum cleaner thatas being structurally novel but functionally old enables more versatileand less space-taking operating applications. Still further, theobjective of the invention is to improve the suction power of thecentral vacuum cleaners without increasing the power of the motors beingused.

As for the features characteristic of the invention, reference is madeto them in the claims.

The central vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention comprises asuction hose and a central unit provided with an exhaust joint andhaving a motor, a fan, a dust container, a filter and a suction jointfor attaching the suction hose directly or by means of the suctionpiping and an exhaust joint for leading the air flow out of the centralunit. According to the invention, the central vacuum cleaner comprisesan operating unit separate from the central unit but attachable to itthat has adapters for attaching the central unit to the operating unit,an exhaust junction for attaching the exhaust joint of the central unitto the operating unit, an additional filter for filtering the air flowcoming via the exhaust joint and the exhaust junction, as well as anoutlet port for directing the air flow that travelled through the filterinto the surrounding air space.

Thus, characteristic of the operating unit is that the central unit ofthe central vacuum cleaner can be functionally attached to it in such amanner that, after an efficient cleaning, the air can be circulated backinto the room space out of which it was sucked. The structure of theoperating unit, and especially its size and appearance can vary even toa great extent according to the spaces and especially according to thesize and shape of the central unit attached to it.

Advantageously, the central unit includes a suction junction forattaching the suction joint, of the central unit to the operating unit.In that case, there is in the operating unit preferably a suction box inconnection with the suction junction, to which the suction hose can beattached. In this way, the operating unit together with the central unitattached to it forms a central vacuum cleaning system in which thesuction hose is attached to the operating unit, and the exhaust aircomes out of the outlet port of the operating unit. Furthermore,advantageously, arranged in the suction box of the operating unit is acontrol switch of the central unit, so that opening the suction box orconnecting the hose to the suction box will start the motor of thecentral unit. Naturally the starting can also be performed using theswitch in the handle of the hose. In this way, both the control and useof the whole vacuum cleaning system are performed via the operating unitwhile the air flow just circulates from the operating unit, to thecentral unit and back to the operating unit.

Advantageously, the operating unit includes a frame component havingsuspension means for mounting the operating unit on the wall. Dependingon the shapes and structures of the operating unit and of the centralunit, it is naturally also possible that the central unit is mountede.g. on the wall and the operating unit is supported on the centralunit.

The adapters with which the operating unit is attached to the centralunit may vary for each case specifically. The adapters may be suspensionelements, bolts or the like by means of which the central unit isattached to the operating unit, or they may be supporting elements suchas supporting surfaces by means of which the central unit is supportedon the operating unit. It is even possible that the exhaust junction andexhaust joint as well as the suction junction and suction joint are justconnected to one another tightly and rigidly enough to allow them tosupport the central unit, in which case no other adaptor or suspensionare needed.

The central unit of a central vacuum cleaner in accordance with theinvention comprises a motor with its fans, a dust container, as well asan inlet port and outlet port for directing the air flow through thecentral unit. According to the invention, the dust container having anopenable cover and the motor with the fans are arranged side by side inthe direction of the air flows in such a manner that the cover forms asubstantial part of the air flow channel between the dust container andthe motor. Thus, in the structure in accordance with the invention, theair flows in the area of the dust container and the motor aresubstantially parallel but substantially antiparallel in such a mannerthat the air flow turns back to the incoming direction by action of theair flow channel defined by the cover.

Substantial in this structure is also that as the cover forms aconsiderable part of the air channel, the achieved flow channel is asbig as possible in respect of its cross-section, and also the flowresistances are low. One has also managed to keep the device dimensionssmall, which would not have been possible if separate air ducts had tobe formed inside the central unit.

Advantageously, the central unit is substantially a component having theform of a rectangular parallelepiped in which the dust container and themotor with the fans are disposed under the openable cover. In this way,the cover forms one side of the component as a whole, and thus at thesame time forms an air flow channel as wide as possible while directingand turning the air flow from the dust container to the motor with flowresistances as low as possible.

Advantageously, the cover almost entirely forms the surface defining theflow channel outwards, but suitably, in the inner surface of the cover,guide flanges or the like elements directing the air to the desireddirection are used for directing the air flow as non-turbulently aspossible and with low flow resistances towards the motor and the fan.

Advantageously, the suction and air blast flows of the motor aresubstantially axial and perpendicular to the cover. In the same manner,advantageously, the inlet and outlet port of the air flow are disposedon opposite sides in relation to the central unit.

The central vacuum cleaner and central unit of the central vacuumcleaner in accordance with the invention have significant advantagescompared to the prior art. The operating unit having a relatively simplestructure enables the use of the same central unit both as a traditionalout-blasting solution and as one circulating the air in interior spaces.This is how manufacturing series bigger than before and lower productioncosts are enabled. Since in small flats in blocks of flats, no separatesuction piping is needed but just a sufficiently long suction hose, thesolution in accordance with the invention allows an easy andcost-effective vacuum cleaning solution using just the operating unitmounted e.g. on the wall of a wardrobe. When, in addition, in theoperating unit, sufficiently effective filters are used, the system caneven be used to circulate and clean indoor air e.g. during theinconvenient pollen period. Furthermore, the structure of the centralunit deviating from a traditional one and the placement of thecomponents with respect to one another enable one to achieve asmall-sized central unit, easy to install even in confined spaces. Alsothe emptying of the dust container of the central unit is easy just byopening the cover and emptying the dust container or dust bag. Accordingto the tests carried out, a 20 to 30% bigger suction power can beachieved with, the novel structure of the central unit in accordancewith the invention compared to the traditional central units.

In the following section, the invention is described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view illustrating the operating unit inaccordance with the invention with the central unit being attached,

FIG. 2 is a rear view illustrating the central unit of FIG. 1 with thecentral unit being attached,

FIG. 3 illustrates the central unit in accordance with the invention tobe used in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the cover open; and

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the central unit of FIG. 3.

The operating unit 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a sheet-likeframe component having some thickness, though. On the upper edge of theframe component there are fastening holes 10, functioning as thesuspension means, that enable one to mount the operating unit on thewall. On the lower side of the sheet-like frame component there isdisposed an additional filter 4, near which there is on the lower edgeof the frame component an outlet port 5. The outlet port is disposed inthe openable cover. By opening the cover, the additional filter disposedon top of it can be changed at suitable intervals.

On top of the additional filter 4, inside the sheet-like framecomponent, there is an air duct 11, which starts from the front surfaceof the frame component from the exhaust junction 3. Correspondingly, onthe front surface of the sheet-like frame component there is the one endof the pipe, i.e. suction junction 6, from which there is a second airduct 12 leading inside the frame component downwards to the frontsurface thereof, opening therein out of a suction box 8. To this suctionbox 8 it is possible to connect the suction hose of the central vacuumcleaner.

The operating unit according to FIGS. 1 and 2 has been shaped andadapted so as to be used in conjunction with a new type of central unitof a vacuum cleaner in accordance with the invention as shown in FIGS. 3and 4. This kind of central unit is substantially a component having theform of a rectangular parallelepiped. A box-like frame is defined byfour side walls 18 and a back wall 19 forming the bottom. The openableand lockable cover 13 forms the front wall of the central unit.

The inner space defined by the side walls 18 is divided with a partition14 into two spaces, i.e. a dust container 15 and a motor space 16 havinga motor with fans. In the dust container it is possible to, place a dustbag or some other corresponding filter structure that filters the dustfrom the flowing air.

At the bottom of the dust container 15 there is an inlet port 7 of theair flow. The air flow substantially purified from dust travels from thedust container into the motor space 16 on the other side of thepartition 14 via the cover 13. On the inner surface of the cover 13there are crosswise and straight, sheet-like guide flanges 17, whichform in their gaps straight flow grooves or air ducts. Along these theair flows towards the motor space 16, wherein the motor and the fan aredisposed on the same axis which is perpendicular to the back wall 19 ofthe central unit. On the back wall there is an outlet port 20, throughwhich the air flow leaves the central unit. Arranged on the back wallare also fastenings 21 by means of which the central unit can be mountedon the wall or secured to some other suitable place wherein there arethe pipes to be attached to the inlet port 7 and outlet port 20.

The mutual placement of the dust container and motor as well as of thefans combined with the cover structure's function directing the airflows enable a central unit of a vacuum cleaner that is easy and simpleto use, which has a space requirement smaller than that of thetraditional central units and which enables one to considerably increasethe suction power.

The operating unit and the central unit attached to it function asfollows. The central unit of the central vacuum cleaner is attached tothe operating unit as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by connecting the suctionjoint 7 of the central unit to the suction junction 6 of the operatingunit and the exhaust joint 20 of the central unit to the exhaustjunction 3 of the operating unit. At the same time the central unitoperating unit while staying firmly in place. In the suction box 8 thereis in addition an electrical switch that is connected to the centralunit.

When the suction box 8 is opened and the suction hose 22 is plug intothe suction box, the central unit starts. In that case, the air startsto circulate from the suction box through the air duct 12 to the suctionjunction 6 and suction joint 7, and away from it to the dust container15, wherein most of the dust remains in the dust bag or correspondingfilter. From here the air flow proceeds towards the cover 13, turningcrosswise guided by the air ducts of the cover 13, and further backwardsto the motor space 16, and away from it in the axial direction of themotor and fan to the exhaust joint 20 and exhaust junction 3. From herethe air flow proceeds along the air duct 11 into an additional filter 4that is finer and more accurate than the dust bag. From the additionalfilter, the air flow is directed through the outlet port 5 into the airspace surrounding the equipment.

The use of the whole equipment is very simple and easy; starting andstopping just by fastening and unfastening the suction hose, and theemptying and change of the dust bag just by opening the cover 13.

The operating unit in accordance with the invention can also be appliedto the cylindrical central units widely used at present. Substantial isonly the fact that the suction junction and exhaust junction of thecentral unit can be attached to the operating unit, that the air flowfrom the filter of the operating unit can substantially freely flow intothe surrounding space, and that the dust container of the central unitcan be relatively freely and easily removed for emptying. Thus, thetechnical operation and structure is the same irrespective of thecentral unit while the central unit possibly requires just a suitablecentral unit-specific design.

In the foregoing, the invention has been described by way of exampleswith reference to the accompanying drawings while various embodiments ofthe invention are possible within the scope of the inventive, ideadefined by the claims.

1. A central vacuum cleaner including a suction hose (22) and a centralunit having a motor, a fan, a dust container (15), a filter and asuction joint (7) for attaching the suction hose either directly or bymeans of a suction piping, and an exhaust joint (20) for directing theair flow out of the central unit, wherein the central unit includes anoperating unit (1) separate from the central unit, the operating unithaving adaptors for attaching the central unit (2) to the operatingunit, an exhaust junction (3) for connecting the exhaust joint (20) ofthe central unit to the operating unit, an additional filter (4) forfiltering the air flow coming through the exhaust joint and exhaustjunction, as well as an exhaust port (5) for directing the air flow thattravelled through the additional filter into the air space surroundingthe operating unit.
 2. The central vacuum cleaner according to claim 1,wherein the operating unit (1) includes a suction junction (6) forconnecting the suction joint (7) of the central unit (2) to theoperating unit.
 3. The central vacuum cleaner according to claim 2,wherein the operating unit (1) includes a suction box (8) in connectionwith the suction junction (6), to which the suction hose (22) can beattached.
 4. The central vacuum cleaner according to claim 3, whereinthe suction box (8) of the operating (1) unit includes a switch wherethe central unit can be started and switched off.
 5. The central vacuumcleaner according to claim 1, wherein the operating unit (1) includes aframe component having suspension means (10) for mounting the operatingunit on the wall.
 6. The central vacuum cleaner according to claim 1,wherein the adaptors are suspension elements by means of which thecentral unit is attached to the operating unit.
 7. The central vacuumcleaner according to claim 1, wherein the adaptors are supportingelements such as supporting surfaces by means of which the central unitis supported on the operating unit.
 8. A central unit of a centralvacuum cleaner having a motor with fans, a dust container (15), as wellas an inlet port (7) and an outlet port (20) for directing the air flowthrough the central unit, wherein the dust container (15), having anopenable cover (13), and the motors with the fans are adapted side byside in the direction of flow of the air flows in such a manner that thecover forms a substantial part of the air flow channel between the dustcontainer and the motor.
 9. The central unit according to claim 8,wherein the cover (13) extends into the area of both the dust container(15) and the motor, covering substantially one side of the central unit.10. The central unit according to claim 8, wherein the inner surface ofthe cover (13) includes guide flanges (17) for directing the air flow.11. The central unit according to claim 8, wherein the suction and blastair flows of the motor are substantially axial and perpendicular to thecover (13).
 12. The central unit according to claim 8, wherein the inletport (7) and the outlet port (20) are disposed substantially on thecover's opposite side of the central unit.
 13. The central unitaccording to claim 8, wherein the main direction of the air flow of thedust container (15) is substantially parallel but antiparallel to themain direction of the air flow travelling through the motor and the fan.14. The use of a central unit of a central vacuum cleaner having a motorwith fans, a dust container (15), as well as an inlet port (7) and anoutlet port (20) for directing the air flow through the central unit,wherein the dust container (15), having an openable cover (13), and themotors with the fans are adapted side by side in the direction of flowof the air flows in such a manner that the cover forms a substantialpart of the air flow channel between the dust container and the motor,in conjunction with the central vacuum cleaner according to claim 1.